Cornet



(No Model.)

F. F. FRANCESGHINI.

CORNET.

No. 300,590i Patented June 17, 188

1277.1. C C 5C lNvENToR Y by i m Mmm, 1 7, uw y I vation of a cornetprovided with my improveiii'nirnn rnfrns afrenta* einen.

CORNET.

:'SI-'ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,590, dated June17, 1884.

Application filed November' 21, 1883. (No model.)

to all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, FRANK F. FRANCES- oHINI, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city and county of Philadelphia and State 'ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCornets-a- Piston, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

rIhis invention has reference Yto that class of musicalwind-instruments, of which the cor` net-a-piston is a type, havingreciprocating piston-valves; and it relates, specifically, toimprovements in mechanism for elevating the valve-pistons upon removalof the pressure of the fingers upon the stops or buttons.

Figure l ofthe annexed drawings is an elements, the front of the centralone of the three valve-chambers being removed, thereby revealing theinvention as applied therein, the piston being depressed to aboutone-l1alf its full'stroke. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectionthrough one of the valve-chambers detached, the piston being at somewhatless than half-stroke. Fig. 3 is a like section showing the piston andvalve at the full limit of the downstroke. Fig. 4 is a section on line aa, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail of piston-rod and plate, through which therod moves up and down7 showing the means for preventing the piston andvalve from rotating. Fig. 6 is a section online b b, Fig. 5. Fig. 7represents simply one ofthe endless rubber bands. Figs. 8 and 9 areviews showing a modification of the means for securing the rubber bandsto the piston-rod. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the piston-rod, withthe top plate, through which it moves, detached, showing a modificationof the invention.

As a practical musician, familiar with the usual construction of theclass of instruments to which my present invention is applicable, I haveobserved that the ordinary metallic spiral compression-springs containedin the valve-chambers of the instruments for the purpose of retractingthe pistons and valves soon become rusty `and foul from the moisture ofthe breath, and are then apt to stick and lose their sensitiveness.rlhey are also liable, comparatively soon, when much used to. suddenbreakage. In addition to this, the mechanism or devices requisite to beused in connection with such spiral springs involves considerablefriction, which of course prevents the valves from responding as freelyand quickly as is desirable to the pressure of the fingers upon thebuttons of the piston-rods, and when such pressure is removed. These aredefects of no little moment, especially in rapid playing, and which thismy invention, which I shall now proceed to describe, is designed toremedy.

Referring to the'drawings, in the several figures of which the same orcorresponding parts are designated by the same letters where theyappear, u is the valve-chamber or case; b, the valve; c, the piston-rodconnected thereto; d, the plate through which the pistonrodreciprocates, which plate is sustained by the top or rim of thevalve-case; e, the cap of case a andf the buttons on the tops of therods.

In the preferred form of the invention Iemploy for theretracting-springs endless bands of india-rubber, X, such as shown byFig. 7. The upper end of each of these bands (two being preferred, asVshown) is looped over a stud, s, projecting from the edge of adetachable'plate, d, which studs rest in sockets t in the top edge ofthe case a. The other or lower end of said elastic band is looped overahook, h, iiXed in the side of the piston-rod for that purpose. Ainterior lug` or projection, g, of plate d, in cor junction with avertical slot, t, Figs. 5 and 6, and with the studs of plate d restingin the s ckets ofthe case, serve to keep the piston-rod and valve fromrotating.

The mode of operation of the device is quite obvious, and is'lffencrallysimilar to that of those heretofore in use. rlhe piston-rods and valveare depressed by the pressure of the iingers upon the buttons f, andwhen the pressure is released the springbands instantly raise the rodsuntil stopped by the usual nuts, n, thereon. I iind, however, by actualexperience, that a much improved result is effected by myinvention. rIhe play ofthe piston-rods is now free and easy, and so continuesregardless of moisture, until the rubber bands wear out, which they onlydo from the effects of the. frequent expansion and contraction. Vhenthat occurs, however, it requires but a moment to replace the brokenband with another of any desired size or tension.

IOO

Figs. S and Sl show other .means ot' securing the elastic bands to thepiston-rod. This consists in making` notches o in the side ot' the,latter l'or the recept-ion ot the bands, which are held in place by'means of sliding plates j), that are fastened to the rod with screws qpassing Athrough longitru'linal. slots r 'in said plates. iy looseningthe screws the latter may be slid back, so as to uncover the slots, andthen replaced alter the bands have been inserted7 as shown.

A modil'ication olf the invention is represented in lfig. l0, in which arubber cord, zr, is employed as a retractor in lien ol` the endlessband. rlhis cord `has knots or enlarge ments lr at each end thereol',while the studs .v ol' plate Z are notched, as are also the hooks h ol`the piston-rml, as clearly seen in said ligure.

The mode ol applying the cord is obvious, it being inserted in thenotches and stretched alittle, so as to be taut, and is retained inplace by the knots impinging against the sides ol the notches.

I have omitted to state that the studs s ol' plate (l and theircorrespomling sockets on the lop ol.' the ease c are made, ljnel'erably,ot' dil ferent widths, (see Figs. Lt and (5,) so as to insure theinsertion ol' the valve in proper position within ils ease.

lt may also be observed that by the construction described l am enabledto use a. lighter piston-rod than is required in connection with theinstruments-nsing metallic spiral springs. Vl` also have aless numberot'frietional parts or points7 and my india-rnl'iber springs are lighterthan the metallic ones, advantages of no mean importance 'in an insti-lrment ol' this character.

Vl-larintg thus described nl rinrention, lelainz.

as new and usel'ul4 and wish to secure by 'l'ielters latent" ll ',lhcimprovement in eornelsa-jljiist-on and similar musical instruments,consisting in the combination, with the Valve, pistolnrod, and case,ol'thelal'eral elastic band or bands, the upper end ol' which is.secured to a Vlixelll support and the lower end thereol'to the'pistone-ml7 all constructed andvadaptcd to operate substantially asandv Vforlhe purpose set l'orth.

2. The combination ofthe reti-actingspring, the piston-rod and atlinghedvalve, the case, and the plate d, said rod and `plate beingI respectirel)v provided with means, substantially as shown, l'or st cnrinersaid spring, all constructed and zulapted lo operate substantiall5r asand l'or the purpose slated.

il. rllie (combination ol' rase u, Valve I, rod c, prorided with hookslf," plate d, provided with studs s, the cap f, and springsn-7slibstantially as and for the purpose described.

The combination ol" the piston-roll hav ing the hooks /1 or theireipliralent, and the `longitrulinal. slot i', the case c, and the plated, provided with the lng y, littine into slot i', and with the studs s,adapted to iit :into the notches on the top ol` case c, all constructedand adapted to be used substantially as and for the pi'nrposc specified.

In testimony whereof lhave hereunto a l'lixed my signature this Sth dayol'Xovinnber, Ar. ll. i883.

Jona Noi'ax, ANnlz'nw ZA N n, .i r.

